Attachment for toe softening apparatus



1938 J. B. PIOTROWSKI 2,126,345

ATTACHMENT FOR TOE SOFTENiNG APPARATUS Filed April 1, 1935 Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFECE ATTACHMENT FOR TOE SOFTENING 1 Glaim.

The present invention appertains to improvements in toe softening machines and in particular to anattachment therefor by means of which to protect the leather of the forepart or toe of a shoe while treating the shoe upper to permit lasting or toe-wiping preliminary to attachment of the sole It is well known in the art to which this invention relates that under the, conventional method of steaming the shoe in a steaming box, not only does the steam come in contact with the part of the upper which is to be wiped, but it also strikes the whole forepart of the toe causing discoloration due to softening the lacquer of the leather and this condition necessitates additional work upon the shoe to give it the proper finish.

The cost of the additional labor in the aggregate is material and it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a protective means for apparatus employed in the operation referred to so as to eliminate the labor and expense of the subsequent finishing treatment.

The attachment which forms the subject matter of my improvements comprises a guard member shaped to receive and support the forepart or toe of the shoe to be lasted, when in inverted position, said member being formed with an attaching flange at one end and with a stop flange at its other end and this as a unit is capable of ready attachment to a known type of steam box.

A further objective of this invention is to provide a simple article which may be cheaply manufactured for attachment purposes and which when combined with the toe softening apparatus will guard the toe portion of the shoe against direct engagement of the steam while permitting the steam to freely circulate about the toe in such a manner as to soften and render the material pliable for the lasting operation.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a known toe softening apparatus showing my attachment device applied in operative position thereon;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section view through the attachment device and its support; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the device in plan.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing and specifically describing the apparatus, l designates a steam box of a conventional form of softening apparatus, said box being supplied with a quantity of water of a predetermined level from a reservoir or tank 2.

The box is supported by a pedestal 3 and into the base of said box extends an electrical heating unit 4 for generating a supply of steam which rises in the steam or treating chamber 5 thereof over which extends the hood 6 for confining the steam more or less during the treating operation. A supporting plate 7 extends partially over the opening ii of the steam chamber and this plate is suitably cut out to provide a pair of substantially semi-circular notches 9 so shaped to receive the toe ends of the shoes for treating pur- 1 poses and to receive the attachment upon which the shoe toe is supported insuch treatment.

Adjustably attached to the face of the plate by means of the bolt ill is a Wire bracket H which adjustably carries the shoe support l2 of wire bent to form V-shape rests l3. Obviously with this form of softening apparatus a pair of shoes may be treated at one time, but so far as this invention is concerned it is immaterial whether the apparatus is so constituted to handle one or more than one shoe, the softening apparatus being merely illustrative for the purposes of this dis closure only.

To such an apparatus, however, I apply my guard which consists of a dish-shaped member I 4 preferably of. metal and conforming in contour to the shape of the forepart of the shoe, said member being of sufiicient size to accommodate the general run of shoes manufactured. Its cross sectional configuration corresponds to the shape and size of the notches 9 so as to be snugly seated therein. It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the bottom of this member is not only curved but is pitched downwardly toward the plate 1 in the longitudinal direction at an angle from the horizontal so as to insure the drainage of condensed moisture at all times.

At one end the member [4 is formed or provided with an attaching flange l5 suitably apertured to receive the attaching screws 5 for securing said flange against the face of the plate 1. A further flange ll is formed about the guard to act as a stop for limiting the positioning of the shoe in the box and this flange is preferably, though not necessarily, corrugated or crimped so as to provide a series of ribs l8 which rigidify the member to a material extent.

This guard of imperforate material thus protects the toe portion of the shoe when said shoe is disposed in inverted position upon the guard and support l2 as shown in Fig. 1 against direct contact of the steam rising in the steam chamber, but allows said steam to pass around the guard to reach the shoe in the desired manner for softening processes.

It will be understood that this formation of guard may be obtained by stamping a sheet of metal into the desired configuration, but I do not desire to be restricted in respects to the manner in which it is formed. In view of the smoothness of the top surface of this guard member the shoes are protected against damage of careless handling of the shoes by workmen. 

